British Royal Birthday Etiquette

Ruler of Great Britain, King Edward VII, Attains Age of 68 and is Overwhelmed by Tenents and Employes With Tokens of Their Loyalty and Good Will

This being the 68th anniversary of the birth of King Edward, President Taft today sent him the following congratulatory telegram; “I warmly congratulate your Majesty on your happy completion of another year, and wish for you all health and happiness in long years to come.” 

London, Nov. 9—King Edward VII, is celebrating his 68 birthday privately at his residence at Sandringham, Norfolk, today. His birthday was officially celebrated on Coronation Day last June. The counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, which consider themselves part of the Royal domain, have closed their schools in honor of the event, salutes are being fired at garrison towns all over the empire, flags are flying everywhere and thousands of congratulatory telegrams from prominent men and women throughout the world have been delivered at Sandringham, where the King will remain today surrounded by his family and a few friends. Court etiquette forbids the presentation of gifts except from members of the Royal family, but tenants and employees of the King’s own estate are allowed to make kindly little offerings, and with these, Edward is fairly overwhelmed today. – Press Democrat, 1909

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette and Palace Arrogance

“The Queen rose herself and, with her own hand, performed the act which her haughty attendants had felt was below their dignity.” – Court Ladies or Ladies in Waiting were personal attendants/personal assistants at a royal court. These ladies attended and accompanied Queens, Tsarinas, Empresses and other noblewomen. In Europe, historically, Ladies in Waiting were noblewomen themselves, but of a lower rank than the women they attended.

The Queen’s Haughty Attendants

Court etiquette is a fearful and a wonderful thing. It is told that on one occasion when the lamp in Queen Victoria's sitting room at Osborne was smoking, her majesty appealed to one of her Ladies in Waiting to lower the wick a trifle. The lady appealed to declined to recognize turning down a lamp as one of her official duties. She passed the information about the lamp to the next Lady in Waiting, who told the third lady, and so it traveled from attendant to attendant while the moments fled and the smoke continued to ascend. Finally, the Queen rose herself and, with her own hand, performed the act which her haughty attendants had felt was below their dignity. – San Bernardino Sun, 1899

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Royal Etiquette for Diana

Diana of Wales took to the dance floor with actor John Travolta, in the White House during a 1980’s visit to the U.S. – Born and bred as “Lady Diana,” she was well versed in the finer ponts of etiquette and briefly attended a Swiss finishing school. However, learning etiquette for a royal life, would naturally take some time. It is said that someone will be working with the new Duchess of Sussex,who only last week married the late Diana’s son, Prince Harry, over a six month period to help her learn the royal ropes.

Lady Diana Briefed on Etiquette 

LONDON (AP) 

Lady Diana Spencer, who will marry Prince Charles after her 20th birthday this summer, got her first lesson in royal etiquette Wednesday over breakfast with Queen Mother Elizabeth, the Prince's grandmother. Lady Diana moved into Clarence House, the official London residence of the 80-year-old queen mother, after Buckingham Palace announced the royal wedding plans Tuesday.

The Queen Mother, one of Britain's most popular royal figures, went through the adjustment of palace life 58 years ago, when as Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, she married the Prince who became King George VI. A wedding date has not been announced, but the couple said Tuesday, it will probably be in late July. Lady Diana's birthday is July 1st. – San Bernardino Sun, 1981

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia 

Etiquette and a Majarajah Snubbed

Royal snobs and royal snubs –“The relationship between Queen Victoria and her handsome, young Indian attendant Abdul Karim was deemed so controversial and scandalous by her family members that, upon the monarch’s death in 1901, they scrubbed his existence from royal history ... But why was the relationship so controversial—beyond the interclass curiosity of the Queen of England confiding in a servant—that it warranted full censure? According to historians, Victoria’s family and staff members exhibited prejudice of the racial and social variety, which compounded with jealousy as Victoria became closer with Karim and afforded him privileges including traveling with her through Europe; titles; honors; prime seats at operas and banquets; a private carriage; and personal gifts.” - VanityFair.com 

Why Was an Indian Prince Left Out of a Diplomatic Procession?

There occurred at the Foreign Office in London, the other day, even what might be called in the diplomatic world an incident. The occasion was the party given in honor of the Queen's Birthday by Lady Kimberley, wife of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The party was a very numerous one. Experts thought that never before had so many guests been collected in the spacious reception-rooms of the great building in Downing Street. The crush was tremendous. Perhaps the superior sex will form a better notion of it if I say that one well-known lady took up her position in the west gallery against the balustrade and declined to move. When asked why she would not make the grand tour about the quadrangle, she explained that her gown was trimmed with a quantity of very fine old lace, and that she did not care to sacrifice it. So there she stayed. 

As it happened, the spot she chose was near the door of the Royal supper-room, which happens also to be the point where the Royal procession is formed. This procession makes the tour which the lady with the lace gown declined to attempt. The Royalties were many on this occasion and there was a long delay at the start —longer than the number of persons to be marshaled the way they should go would explain. The Embassadors, Ministers and other distinguished persons form part of the procession. It presently became known that a question of precedence had arisen. With the Prince of Wales was the well-known Maharajah of Kuch Behar—he who was such a striking figure in London during the Queen's Jubilee. This Indian Prince, though, I believe, of no very exalted rank among the great sovereigns of the Peninsula of Hindustan, knows his value and desires it to be fully recognized by others. He signified his wish to take place in the procession next alter the English Royalties. 

The Master of Ceremonies was aware, no doubt, that the position was one to which this dusky potentate was not entitled. But he was aware also that Kuch Behar, as he is commonly called, is a favorite with the Royal family, and he thought he had better see what could be done. He approached the Russian Embassador with the remark that perhaps he would not mind if Kuch Behar walked before him. “Indeed I should mind very much,” replied M. de Staal. “Personally, I would give way with pleasure, but as representative of the Emperor of Russia, I must keep the place I am entitled to.” One or two other Embassadors were applied to with the same result—indeed, if one objected the wish of the Indian could not be carried out, and on a question of etiquette the diplomatic body stick together like wax. It ended in the procession being formed without the ornamental presence of the Maharajah of Kuch Bebar. While these negotiations were proceeding, the head of the procession remained ; halted at the place indicated above, just beiore the junction of the two galleries.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, the Princess Louise and others of the family stood in a group. All at once a well-known official of the royal household, in uniform, blazing with gold lace and orders, was seen making his way to the front. As he came near a friend who was standing with his back to the wall at the side of the royalties, this official remarked, in a voice rather louder than is supposed to be suited to royal ears: “It is no easy business to get all the Royalties and Embassadors into their right places.” He was, of course, quite unaware that he had come to the head of the waiting procession and was in the midst of the royalties as he spoke. 

The Duke of Connaught turned round, laughing, and said: “Well, X, I suppose we are very much in the way, but we are doing the best we can.” The Princess of Wales, who had heard, also turned to X with a smiling face and a word of gentle pleasantry. So did one or two others. X, I must say, stood there while he made his excuses, of course, but with dignity, and without appearing to be aware that he was in danger of being led to instant execution, nor was he, nor did he suffer in the esteem of his royal masters either by his indiscretion or by his coolness. The only sufferer that evening was the Maharajah of Kuch Behar, who was left out of the Royal procession.—Correspondent New York Tribune, 1894

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia 

Royal Questions of Etiquette

There are certain obstacles in the way, but it is hoped that they may not prove insurmountable. In the first place, a Court official of experience says, as the Prince of Wales represents the King, it would be unusual for him to visit any foreign country officially, except as the guest of that country's Chief of State or its government. King Edward personally is said to be strongly favorable to such a visit, yet he may be slow to establish a precedent which hereafter might lead to trouble or misunderstanding. – The Prince of Wales of 1902, would go on to become King George V, in 1910. He was the only “Emperor of India” to be present at his own Delhi Durbar.

Invitation to the Prince  

London is Surprised and Gratified – Serious Obstacles in the Way of His Acceptance – Questions of Etiquette May Interfere With His Being the Guest of the New York Chamber of Commerce—King Edward is Personally in Favor of the Visit

LONDON, April 7.—The suggestion that the Prince of Wales attend the dedication of the new home of the New York Chamber of Commerce excites the liveliest surprise here, coupled with satisfaction at the indication of good feeling on the part of the leading members of America's industrial community. Undoubtedly, it is hoped in political circles, that the expected invitation will be accepted. Inquiries have elicited the fact that in Royal Court, and official circles, it is recognized that there are certain obstacles in the way, but it is hoped that they may not prove insurmountable. In the first place, a Court official of experience says, as the Prince of Wales represents the King, it would be unusual for him to visit any foreign country officially, except as the guest of that country's Chief of State or its government. King Edward personally is said to be strongly favorable to such a visit, yet he may be slow to establish a precedent which hereafter might lead to trouble or misunderstanding. 

Then, the fact that other European Royal heirs apparent and persons of eminence have been invited, raises questions of etiquette which assume very serious dimensions in the eyes of Royalty and Court functionaries. It has been already arranged that the Prince shall go to India next winter to make a tour of the Empire and to attend the proclaiming of his father Emperor of that dependency. The Court official heretofore mentioned, points out that unless the Prince can visit New York on the way, it will be too great a strain on him to cross the Atlantic and back in the autumn, especially as heavy demands on his, by no means, robust constitution will be made by the Coronation festivities. Anyway, it is a fact that such a visit would be extremely popular here, and it is believed in Court circles that the King, who is well aware of the international advantages of such an interchange of courtesies, will do all in his power to accede to the New York Chamber of Commerce's hospitable invitation. – Los Angeles Herald, 1902

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Edward’s Disciplined Court Etiquette

Crowned King Edward VII in August 1902, the former Prince of Wales threw himself into his new role with energy. His reign restored sparkle to the British Monarchy. Diplomatically skilled, he was the first British Monarch to visit Russia. In 1902, he founded the Order of Merit to reward those who distinguished themselves in science, art or literature. Related to most European royalty and known as the ‘Uncle of Europe’, he was able to assist in foreign policy negotiations. His well-received addresses during his state visit to Paris, helped pave the way for the Anglo-French Entente Cordiale of 1904.

A Change in the Prince

Hidden away in the weekly gossip column of The Birmingham Post, is the following remarkable account of the change which has come over His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. “We are all Socialists at heart.” said the Prince of Wales the other day, when talking to a statesman of the old school, who was lamenting the progress of Socialism. “And this conviction renders the outward semblance of Conservatism more and more difficult to maintain.” This feeling on the part of His Royal Highness, combined with the necessity of upholding the old institutions at Court, must have rendered the Prince’s position irksome at times. 

Report declares that he has, for many seasons, been using every endeavor to establish discipline among the ladies and gentlemen of the Court circle by observance of the strict rules of etiquette established in the early part of the present reign. During the long retirement of her Majesty after the great affliction which befell her, the discipline she had established grew somewhat relaxed, and various Court scandals served to point the moral and adorn the tale of the stump orators and brawling demagogues, who remained unmolested in their attacks, until it became difficult to put them down. The Prince of Wales was only awakened to the necessity of assuming the responsibility of his position by his own name being unjustly compromised, and he then resolved to restore the dignity of the Court, which had been suffered to become a prey to the slanders of the Socialistic party. 

He has been for some time pursuing his task, not of restoring, but modifying, the severity of the ancient costumes, so as to render them tolerable both to the Courtiers of the past and those of today. The idea of dispensing with the bare necks and naked shoulders of the ladies frequenting her Majesty’s drawing room seems to be the first step in this direction, and, it is said, emanates from the Prince himself, who, being present at a Court reception at Vienna, was struck with the dignity and propriety of the dresses of the ladies. The Queen was much averse to the change; but the Princess of Wales urged it so earnestly that her Majesty has yielded at length.—Boston Herald, 1889

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette and a New Royal for 1910

Alexander William George Duff, and Princess Louise Victoria, the Duke and Duchess of Fife, photographed in period costumes for a fancy dress ball. ~ The Duchess of Fife expressly desired that after her marriage she should not be under the necessity of having a “household” in the sense that the word is understood at Court, and she did not appoint a Lady-in-Waiting. But it would be contrary to etiquette for the daughter of the Sovereign to attend any public or even large social function unattached, but she can ask one of her friends to act as Lady-in-Waiting for the occasion. –Photo by James Lauder for the Lafayette Company

England’s New Princess Royal...

Unostentatious Life of Louise Victoria, Duchess of Fife

The late King Edward VII, was especially fond of his oldest daughter, Louise Victoria, Duchess of Fife, who, with the ascent of her brother to the throne becomes the Princess Royal of England, succeeding her aunt, Princess Victoria Adelaide. Though the English royal family have been singularly happy and fortunate in their marriages none has proved happier than the marriage between the King's eldest daughter and the Duke of Fife, despite the fact that the Duke is nigh 17 years the senior of her Royal Highness. 

The Cincinnati Enquirer says: The marriage was the outcome of the most spontaneous affection; the Duke of Fife had known the Princess since she was a baby, for he was an intimate friend of the royal family, and was especially well liked by his Majesty. As the young Princess grew from childhood into girlhood it became evident to those in the immediate entourage of the Prince of  Wales’ household that there was a probability of the then Earl of Fife becoming more closely related to the royal family than by more ties of friendship, and the Prince frankly welcomed the prospect. But an engagement between a member of the royal family and a subject cannot be lightly entered into, or ratified all at once. It was necessary that the sovereign should consent to the engagement and the Princess and her lover were kept in hot water some little while before Queen Victoria finally decided that the engagement between them might be announced. 

There was no question at all about the personal feeling with which the royal family regarded the Duke of Fife, but the point that had to be considered was how far the marriage of the heir apparent’s eldest daughter to a subject, might prove generally acceptable to the public. As a matter of fact, when the engagement was announced, it became at once evident that there was no need to fear for its popularity. All sections of the community seemed to think it far more fitting that the Princess Royal should ally herself in marriage with the head of an ancient and noble house, who was also enormously wealthy, than become the consort of some foreign, and perhaps needy, Prince. 

The Duke’s best man was, by the way, Lord Farquhar, then Mr. Horace Farquhar, a solitary commoner amidst a crowd of titled personages, most of whom were royalties. The Duchess of Fife ever since her marriage has led a singularly simple and very happy life. When a Princess marries it is customary for her to have an official household of her own and to appoint a certain number of Ladies-in-Waiting. But the Duchess of Fife expressly desired that after her marriage she should not be under the necessity of having a “household” in the sense that the word is understood at Court, and she did not appoint any Lady-in-Waiting. It would be, however, contrary to etiquette for the daughter of the Sovereign to attend any public or even large social function unattached, but when the Duchess of Fife does so, she gets over this difficulty quite easily by asking some one of her friends to act as Lady-in-Waiting for the occasion. 

The Duchess spends a great deal of her time at Mar Lodge, where her two children, the Princesses Alexandra and Maud, lived almost altogether until they had reached the ages of 7 and 8. The Princesses have been brought up in quite a simple manner; they both occupied the same sleeping apartment for many years and had only the services of one maid. The Duchess of Fife has traveled a great deal with her children of late years, for she is a strong believer in the educational value of travel for young people. Both of her children are clever and extremely good linguists, but more especially the Princess Maud, who can speak quite fluently in French, German and Italian. – Mill Valley Independent, 1910

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette and Royal Rituals

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh at the opening of Parliament in 1952

On Rituals of the Royal Court

LONDON (UP) – Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, as young folks might be expected to do, are chaffing a bit these days at the stupendous ritual and custom that hedges them around in the Royal Court. Wise courtiers say nothing and wait for the irritation to subside, as they know it will in the course of time. It always has. Modernization of Court proceedings is always in progress but it moves slowly. There are certain to be changes during the anticipated long reign of Elizabeth II, but nothing as dramatic as some of the sensational press are now demanding.

For one thing, it is obvious that pressure on the Queen, if the buffering army of functionaries were removed or cut radically, would be greater than it is under the present system. Thus, cutting away too much red tape would expose the Queen to the very evil from which her self-appointed saviors seek to rescue her. The Court of St. James is a very old Court, and, in a county where tradition is venerated as nowhere else, there is a reluctance to drop customs for any reason whatsoever. It is quite true that there are servants in the Royal households who have servants to wait upon them. But it has always been that way, and despite the unionization of the Palace help, there might be considerable unrest if this were changed.

It comes down to a question of whether the nation wants a Court or doesn't want one. And Elizabeth is known to love the pomp, the panoply, the ceremonial which blazes about the British throne. The Royal household is an immense establishment. There are eleven private secretaries and assistants to the sovereign. There are 23 officials in the privy purse, treasury and Royal charities office. There are 36 Royal chaplains. There are 20 physicians and surgeons and a special coroner. And many others. Before Queen Mary’s time there were even greater numbers of royal Courtiers, but the redoubtable old lady—as other Queens before her—chopped away a few of the jobs. And her grand-daughter, will doubtless whittle away a few more.

By Court etiquette, Elizabeth must not do anything directly. She can give orders to her private secretary, to her ladies of the bed-chamber or ladies in waiting, to her principal advisers and these, in turn, relay her orders to the lower echelons. This has irked the Duke of Edinburgh more than any single rule of the palaces, and he has broken it more than once by strolling down corridors asking the desired information or giving orders in person. Queen Elizabeth is expected to shorten the chain of command down the line from the throne as her contribution to the streamlining of etiquette.

Another windmill at which the critics are tilting is the strict procedure for public engagements. The newspapers contend that the Queen should not be tied up a year ahead to visits such as the one to New Zealand. The implication is that these things ought to be spun-of-the-moment affairs quickly accomplished by plane instead of great processions by sea with public interest drummed up over a period of time, this is a rather naive approach. 

New Zealand will invest a fortune in the Queen's visit and it may well be the event of the year there. Security has to be considered. Shops will get ready for extra business. New Zealanders from out-country may want to arrange to be at the points visited by the Queen. She will open playgrounds, lay cornerstones, attend ceremonials, make speeches. — The Edinburgh Courier, 1953

👑Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Court Etiquette and Crowing

The office in the Royal Household was called not only the “ King's Crower," but the “ King's Cock and Crier,” too.

Crowing in Lent

“During the season of Lent,” says the London Chronicle, “it was anciently the custom of the watchmen to crow the hour of the night instead of shouting it, the intention being doubtless to remind sleepless sinners of the effect the third crowing of the cock had on St. Peter. 

This custom, too, was observed at the Royal Court, an officer known as the 'King's cock crower' performing the duties within the precints of the palace. On the first Ash Wednesday after the accession of the House of Hanover, as the then Prince of Wales, (afterward George II), was at supper, this officer entered and crowed 'past 10 o’clock.' 

The astonished Prince mistook the crow for an insult and rose to resent it, but was made to understand, with some difficulty, that the custom was in accordance with Court etiquette. The custom was from that time discontinued. —Madera Mercury, 1902

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia